TOsketchfest23 Review: Candace Scott-Moore Curator Program
Tita Collective
The night was cold and miserable. Even though TOsketchfest was promising me an evening featuring the comedic stylings of the Don Valley Girls, Manifest Destiny’s Child, and the Tita Collective, I didn’t think even that line up of fierce funny women could break me from my late winter snow day funk. But then Don Valley Girls came out in drag, just a bunch of bros parsing the whole lock and key theory and snapped me out of my miseries.
Something I always appreciate about the festival is the room for the performers to play and experiment. Don Valley Girls are known for their tight sketch comedy, and the Titas their songs, neither left their comfort zone but I’ve never seen Manifest Destiny’s Child explore sketch as a medium. Though the sketches didn’t have the same fluidity as their stand up, the jokes all landed and I hope to see them explore this option more in the future — which might not be realistic given that the members are sprinkled across the country these days!
Candace Scott-Moore is the intrepid curator who brought together Don Valley Girls, Manifest Destiny’s Child, and the Titas as part of the festival’s new Curator Showcase Series, and she could not have picked a better combination of performers. All groups are irreverent, intersectional women (do we still talk bout intersectionality?), telling truths and working out existential fears one joke at a time whether it’s the colonization of bidets, Native TikTok, or how to dress for climate change.
The Toronto Sketch Comedy Festival runs until March 19.
Don Valley Girls performs March 17.
An evening featuring the comedic stylings of the Don Valley Girls, Manifest Destiny’s Child, and Tita Collective.